Control system for phonographs of the combined recording-reproducing type



1952 R. M. SOMERS CONTROL SYSTEM FOR PHONOGRAPHS OF THE COMBINED RECORDING-REPRODUCING TYPE Ongmal Flled Jan 4, 1947 WN O O vw Wm 7P2 (IKE! arj M 501229715 MM Snow,

Patented Aug; 5, 1952 V CONTROL SYSTEM FOR PHONOGRAPHS on THE COMBINED RECORDING-REPRODUC- ING [TYPE v. t

Richard M. Somers,West Orange, N. J assignor to Thomas A. Edison, Incorporated, West Orange, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Original application January 4, 1947, Serial No.

This application is a divisionapplication Serial No. 720,197, filedJanuary 4, 1947 and entitled Reel-Type Phono'graphic- Machine (now Patent No. 2,536,666 dated January ofmy" pending Divided and this application October 1, 1949, Serial No; 119,165

14 ohms. (01. 179-1004) 2 limited either to reel-type phonographs or to such phonographs having this facility.

A particular object of the invention is to pro- 7 vide a novel and improved control mechanism,

2, 1951). e. especially adapted for reel-type phonographs,.for

This invention relates to improvements in restoring automatically such machines to recordphonographs for recording and reproducing dicing condition upon return, after a backspacing tation, and more particularly the invention reoperation, to the last prior recorded position of .lates to an improved control systemwhich is farthest advance.

especially adapted to enhancethe value of r'eel- 10 Another objec s to provide Such an automatic type phonographs for recording and reproducing restoring mechanism which is put into operation dictation. .The invention has particular applicaby performing a Simple mflmentary manipulation in magnetic reel-type phonog-raphic mation on the machinechines known as telegraphones, and is herein'de- A feature of this automatic control mechanism scribed in connection with such a machine, but lies "in the utilization of signal c s p Without any unnecessary limitation thereto beduced from the record to maintainthe control m intende apparatus in-an-operated position until the prior 11; i t i ment of dictating recorded position of farthest advance 'isireached. chine. that it be arranged so that the operator Theseand 0131181- l s' f u es of y,.incan .listen back conveniently to selected porn i will be apparent efollo detions of prior recorded matter without distracte dt pp ed Claims. 7 inghis thoughts from his subject of dictation In description of y inventio reference and without undue wasteof time. A defect of p y ngdrawing showing cirreel-type dictating'machines is that a relatively Quits and mefiha'nism Of magnetic ype recordlong time is required to backspace to a selected s produ e incorporating an autopart of the recordation' if one has recorded c'ont e l mechanism cor to Y insiderajbly beyond t t p ei backspacing i vention forrestoringithe machine to normal conthis type of machine is accomplished by moving dition forrecordihg p retur L after a backther-ecord with respect to the translating device Spacing Operation; to the B p o 01 aralong the length of the recordatiOn-and again m v r another considerable time is required, after re- In the drawing a p p c ach ne is producing that selected part,'to return to thelast s wn as c prisi a r rd -I of wire r tap prior recorded position of farthest advance. form, typically of able materiaL-which These defects have been mitigated: somewhat in 'is'drawn from a S pp y roll 2 and wound onto these machines by providing a drive system sea take-up reel 3- in the way commonly employed lectively operable to advance and backspace the in such mchin es. The particular-coup mechrecord atga fast'speed in addition to the normal anism by which the reels are-so driven is herein advance for recording and reproducing, the fast a r l y i dicated as4since it is well speed operation being so that. the operator can' nown in the art and a detailed description backspace quickly to aprior position of recorda- 40 thereof'is 'lmnetessary'for the p poses of the tion and then after listening to a selected portion present -inventiony In the present invention, of the recordation next advance quickly to'the w t he record is driven at difier'entspee'ds last prior position of farthest advance onthe in bothiorwa'rd and backward directions. For record for resumption of further recordation of simplification of the description'th'is is shown dictation. l i f asbeing accomplished by three separate motors Thepresent invention resides particularlyinthe 5. 6 and! having-respective driveconn'ections Provision of a novel control'mechanism fora dic and la. to themechanism- 4' 'abovementating machine which is adapted to enable an tioned.- The motor 5 is adapted to drive the rec operator to resume recordation," after listening 0rd forwardly at a fast Speed, Say ten times 1101'- back to a selected portion of recorded matter, mal speed; the motor 6 is adapted to drive the t a minimum of tt t given t th ma r'ecord forwardly at normal speed; and the motor chine. This invention is particularly adapted for 7! is adapted to drive the record. ina backward use with reel-type phonographs' having facility direction alsoat-a fast speed-of say ten times for fast backspacing and fast advance of therecormal speed. 1 These motors have one common ord as above explained, but is'not necessarily 55 P pp y l a d '8 from a cable-9 which is 3 adapted for plug-in connection to a power source, and have respective other leads H), H and I2 lead 85, switch members 58 and 68a of a currentoperable multiple switch 55 hereinafter described, and a lead 84 to the lead H, a terminal |6 connected directly to the lead II and a terminal I! connected to the lead l2. A pivoted switch :pOl-E member I8 is selectively engageablewith these terminals and is connected by a lead it to the 4 other side of the power cable 9. When the master switch H3 is in a backspacing or first terminal position corresponding to the left-hand po-,

sition of the pole l8, the latter contacts the terminal IT to energize the motor I and cause the record to be driven backward at a fast speed. When the master switch is moved rightwardly into the next succeeding positions respectively referred to asits reproduce and record positions, the pole l8 contacts the terminals l5 and I5 to cause the motor 6 to be energized and the record to be driven forwardly at normal speed in each of these positions. When the master switch is moved farther rightwardly into a restoring or second terminal position, the pole l8 contacts the terminal N to cause the motor 5 to be energized and the record to be driven in a forward direction at a fast speed.

The master switch has three other pole members 20, 86 and 2| in the order here named, the functions of which are hereinafter described. All of these pole members are mechanically connected together by an insulating tie bar 22 on which there is a fingerpiece or knob 23 for manually operating the switch. A detent spring 24 is positioned to engage respective notches 25 and 26 in the tie bar when the master switch is in reproduce and record positions respectively, the purpose of this engagement being to detent the master switch in these respective positions. However, as the master switch is moved into its firstand second terminal positions, the end portions of the tie bar abut against pivoted levers 21 biased by respective springs 28 against respective stops 29. These biased levers serve to return the master switch to its reproduce and record positions upon manual release of the I switch from its first and second terminal positions respectively.

Associated with the record is an electromagnetic translating means for recording on and reproducing from the record. This translating means may, forexample, be a unitary translating device 30 adapted to serve either as a recorder or as a reproducer. This device comprises a magnetic core 3| having confronting poles at opposite sides of the record and having a coil 32. This coil is connected in 'an audio system which is selectively conditionable for recording and reproducing. This audio, system comprises a transducer 33 usable either as a microphone or. sound receiver but comprising preferably separate microphone and receiver units 34 and 35, an electrical amplifier 36 energized from the powercable 9 by way of the lead |& and a lead 31, and a two-position four-pole selector switch 38 the poles of which are mechanically coupled together by an insulating tie bar 38a. I Two poles 38 and 40 of this switch are connected by leads 4| and 42 to one side of the input and output respectively of the amplifier 36, the other side of the amplifier input and out- 4 put being grounded at 43. Associated with the pole 38 is a leftward terminal connected by a lead 44 to one side of the coil 32 and a rightward terminal connected by a lead 45 to the microphone 34. Associated with the pole is a left terminal connected by a lead 46 to the receiver 35 and a right terminal connected also by the lead 44 to the coil 32. "34-'and receiver .35, like the amplifier 36, each -haveone'side grounded as at 41, 48 and 49 re- The coil 32, microphone spectively. When the selector switch is in reproduce position, as shown, the pole 39 connects the translating device, acting as a repredueer, to the input of the amplifier and the pole 40 connects the output of the amplifier to the receiver 35 to condition the audio system for reproducing. Conversely, when the selector switch is thrown to its record position the pole 39 connects the microphone 34 to the amplifier input, and the pole 40 connects the output of the amplifier to the translating device, acting now as a recorder, to condition the audio system for recording.

A third pole 50 of the selector switch 38 and two associated terminals are connected by three leads, generally referred to as 5|, to the amplifier 36. This section of the selector switch 38 is intended for modifying the amplifier circuit. It may for example be adapted for changing the gain of the amplifier as the audio system ,is conditioned for recording andreproducing or, alternatively, for cutting in an automatic volume control during recording and disablinglit during reproducing as taught by Dunning Patent No. 2,163,671.

A fourth pole 52 of the switch 38 controls a system for erasing signals from the magnetic record This system comprises a translating device 53, which may be the same as the device 30 above described, and an eraser E comprising a high-frequency oscillator energized by way of the leads l8 and 31. The eraser E has an output lead 54 connected to the pole 52. Associated with this pole 52 is a left terminal grounded at 53 and a right terminal connected'by a lead 56 to one side of the coil of the translatng device5153, the other side of this coil being grounded a The switch 38 is spring-urged leftwardly into reproduce position as by a tension spring 38b. Actuation of the switch into record position is effected by an electromagnet 58 comprising an armature 59 connected to the tie bar 38a. This electromagnet has a coil 60 one side of which is connected to the power lead'31 and the other side of which is connected by a lead 6|, switch members 61 and 61b of a switch and a lead Bla-to a terminal 62 positioned for engagement with the pole member 2| when the master switch I |3 is in record position, all other positions of this pole 2| being idle. The pole 2| is connected to the other power lead I8. Upon the switch 65,,being in unoperatedposition-which is a rightward position of the pole. elements thereof as the switch appears in the "figureand the master switch 3 being in record position, .power is supplied to the electromagnet 58 to attract theretowards the armature 59 on the end of the tie bar 38a of the selector switch 38, thus placing this selector switch in record position. In all positions-of the master switch 3, except the record position thereof, the electromagnet 58 is unenergized and the selector switch 38 is thenheld by the spring 38b in reproduce position.

The second pole 20 of the master switch is grounded at 20a. When the master switch is in its first terminal position this pole engages a terminal 20b connected by way of a resistor 83 and line 83a to the live side of the receiver 35, to place the resistor 83 in parallel with the receiver. This resistor has a value sufficient to attenuate the sound output of the audio system to a low level of audibility. When the master switch is in record and reproduce positions the pole 20 is disconnected from this circuit and the audio system is in a condition for normal opertlon; however, when the master switch is in its second terminal position, the pole 20 engages a terminal 200 connected directly to-the line 83a,

and places thus a direct short on the receiverv 35 to wholly disable the audio system.

The operation of the master switch I I3 in using the present phonograph as a dictating machine will be understood to be as follows: For normal recording, the master switch H3 is placed in record position. This completes the circuit of the motor 6 and of the electromagnet 58, by way of contact points 6888b and Bl-6lb respectively of the multiple switch 85, to cause the record to be advanced at normal speed and the selector switch 38 to be placed in record position, the effect of the latter being to condition the audio system for recording and to put the eraser system into operation. If the operator desires to listen back to a portion of his recorded dictation, he will move the master switch H3 to its first terminal position; this completes the circuit of the motor I by way of the leads I2 and 8, to cause fast backspacing of the record, and also it opens the circuit of the electromagnet 58 so that the selector switch 38 is returned to reproduce position to condition the audio system for reproducing. However, the resistor 83 is now connected across the receiver 35 to attenuate to a low level of audibility the reproduced gibberish sounds produced during the fast backspacing. When the operatorbelieves the record is backspaced sufiiciently he will release the master switch H3, allowing it to return automatically by one of the springs 28 to reproduce position. The effect of this change in the positioning of the master switch is to stop motor 1 and to start motor 6 so that the record will be advanced again at normal speed; also, this change of positioning of the master switch removes the partial short of the receiver 35 so that the audio system is restored to normal operation for reproducing. The selected recorded matter is therefore next reproduced. If the operator does not desire to listen back to all of the recorded matter on the record past which the record has been backspaced, he will advance the master switch to its second terminal position when he has completed listening to the selected portion of recorded matter, and will then release the master switch to allow it to return automatically to record position. In accordancewith the present invention, this momentary positioning of the master switch in its second terminal position puts into operation an automatic restoring means which maintains fast advance of the record until the prior position of farthest advance is reached and which then automatically restores the phonograph to normal recording condition This automatic restoring .sition of farthest advance as is herein next explained.

The automatic restoring means comprises a relay R which includes the aforestated currentoperable switch 65. This is a two-position multiple switch having four poles 86, 81, 68 and 69 insulatedly mounted in a stack 10 andmechanically connected to each other by an insulating tie bar I I. Also in the stack 18 there are left and right contacts for each pole, referred to by the number of the respective pole with the suflix letters a and b. The poles are connected to an armature 72 which is actuated electromagnetically by a coil 73. This coil is connected in the plate circuit of a vacuum tube 14 which may suitably be a triode as shown. .The plate circuit is energized, for example, by a battery 15 through an adjustable resistor 76 which is adjustable to set the sensitivity of the relay. The tube 14 .is self-biased by a resistor 11 in its cathode circuit typically shunted by a condenser Tia. Connected to the grid of this tube is a time-delay circuit comprising a condenser 18 and a resistor .19 .of which the latter is adjustable to set the timing to a desired value. In parallel with this timedelay circuit is a rectifier 80 and a resistor 8| connected in series. The grid, cathode and plate circuits have a common ground at 82.

The tube 14 is biased by the resistor TI to such an extent that the plate current is normally insufficient to.hold the relay R operated; accordingly, the switch 65 is normally in an unoperated or rightward position wherein the poles thereof make with the respective contacts having the suflix letter b. However, upon impressing a positive potential of suitable value on the grid of the tube, the plate current is increased and the relay is operated to cause the poles to make with the leftward contacts having the suffix letter a, which is the position of the switch 65 shown in the drawing.

When the master switch is thrown to its second terminal position the pole 88, which is permanently connected to ground at 81, makes contact with terminal 860. connected to a trigger circuit 88. This trigger circuit leads to the grid of the tube 14 and serially includes a battery 89 polarized so as to apply a positive potential on the, grid of the tube 14 when the trigger circuit is closed, this potential serving to operate the relay R as explained. The operation of the .relay R initiates the automatic restoring means so that the operator may release the master switch from its second terminal position, to allow it to return automatically to record position underinfiuence of one of the springs 28, and thereupon await the automatic restoration of the machine to record condition when the prior recorded position of farthest advance is reached, as is herein next explained.

When the master switch is moved into its sec ond terminal position current is supplied to the fast-advance motor 5 by way of the lead I0, terminal I4 and pole I8. Upon releasing the master switch for automatic return to record position after the relay R is operated, the motor 5 is still operated by its current-supply circuit, now by way of lead l8, lead 92, contacts 88a -68 .of the relay switch 65, lead and pole l8. This fast advance of the record is maintained so long as the relay switch 65 is operated. When the relay switch is returned to unoperated position, the contacts 68--88a are broken to stop the fast-advance motor 5, and the contacts 8888b are closed to start the normal-advance motor 6, the circuit of the motor 6 being now completed by way of pole [8, lead 85, contact 68B8b, lead 84 and lead H.

As the relay R is energized to move the switch 55 to operated position, the circuit of the electromagnet, 58 is broken by the switch elements 61-, 61b and the selector switch 38 is moved immediately to reproduce position by the spring 38?). Also when the relay R is energized, the resistor BI is connected across the output of a voltage section 35a of the amplifier 36 byway of lead 90. pole 66 and contact 66a of switch 65, and lead 9|. Signals which are picked up by the translating device 30, now operating as a reproducer, from the previously recorded portion of the record I are amplified by the amplifier section 36a and fed across the resistor 8!. Signal voltage which is so developed across the resistor 8! is rectified by the rectifier 80 and fed through the time-delay circuits 18-19 to the grid of the tube I4, the rectifier being so polarized that this rectified signal voltage appears on the grid as a positive potential. This generated positive potential serves as a holding voltage to hold the relay R in operated position after the trigger circuit 88 is broken by the release of the master switch to record position. Since this generated positive potential appears on the grid circuit almost immediately after the trigger circuit 88 is closed by the movement of the master switch [3 to its second terminal position, the operator may remove his hand from the master switch almost the instant it has reached its second terminal position, to allow the switch to return to record position and, notwithstanding, the relay R will be maintained in operated position by the reproduced signal currents.

In order that normal interruption in the reproduced signal currents may not cause release of the relay R to unoperated position, there is provided the time-delay circuit 'I8-19 between the rectifier 80 and the grid of the tube '14. This time-delay circuit does not produce any substantial delay to build-up of the voltage applied to the grid, with the result that the relay R will be operated almost immediately after the master switch is moved to'its second terminal position. However, this circuit 18-49 has a time delay on discharge of the condenser 18, which is typically of the order of one half to one second, so that short blank (unrecorded) spaces on the record will not cause release of the relay R.

Whenever the relay R is in operated position,

the selector switch 38 is in reproduce position the relay R are now closed to place a short on the receiver 35. Thus, after closing the master switch to its second terminal position to initiate fast return to the prior recorded position of far thest advance, and automatic restoration to normal recording condition when that position is reached, no audible signal currents are produced.

Since the record is driven forwardly at fast speed during return to the prior recorded position of farthest advance, substantial interruptions in the recordations onthe record are insuificient to cause the relay R to be released particularly in view of the action of the time-delay circuit l819. When, however, the record has returned to its prior recorded position of farthest advance, the signals picked up'by the translating device 30 will cease, the holding current in the plate circuit of the tube is will return to its normal low level and the relay R will return to unoperated position in response to the natural biasing of the poles 66-65. As aforestated,

as the relay R returns to unoperated position, contacts 68-68a open to stop motor 5 and contacts 6868b close to start motor 6; also, at the same time, contactsGT-Glb are closed to energize the electromagnet 58 to put the audio system into recording condition.

From the foregoing description of this embodiment it will be understood that when the user has backspaced to listen to a selected portion of his recorded dictation, but has not reproduced all of the dictated matter traversed by the translating device 30 in the backspacing operation, he canafter completing the reproducing operation restore the machine quickly to condition for recording simply by momentarily holding the masterswitch in its second terminal position, for in so doing he starts the return to the prior position of farthest advance at a fast speed and causes the record speed to be reduced to normal and the audio system to be conditioned for recording when that prior farthest-advance position is reached.

While I have hereinabove described my invention in terms of a certain preferred embodiment, it will be understood that this embodiment is subject to changes and modifications without departure from the scope of my invention, which I endeavor to express according to the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a phonographic machine including movable supporting means for a record, record-cooperable translating means for recording on and reproducing from the record, a drive system coupled to said supporting means for moving said record in relation to said translating means and an audio system including said translating means and selectively conditionable for recording or reproducing: the combination of a control device movable into and out of record position; means for respectively placing said audio system into and out of condition for recording; means whereby said placing means is controlled by said control device as said device is moved into and out of said record position; means for maintaining the audio system out of condition for recording after return of said control device to record position so long as the record passing said translating means bears a recordation without substantial interruptions; and means whereby said maintaining means is rendered operative by said control device and is rendered responsive to said translating means assaid control device is moved to place said audio system out of condition for recording.

2. In a phonographic machine including movable supporting means for a record, record-c0- operable translating means for recording on and reproducing from the record, a drive system coupled to said supporting means for moving said record in relation to'said translating means and an audio system including said translating means and selectively conditionable for recording or reproducing: the combination of a control device operable between "record position and another position and biased into record position; means controlled by said control device as said device is moved into and out of said record position for respectively placing said audio system into and out of condition for recording; means for maintaining said audio system out of condition for recording after'return of said control device to record position; means whereby said maintaining means is put in operation as said control device is moved out of record position; and means whereby said maintaining means is kept in operation by electric current from said translatin means after return of said control device to record position so long as the record passing said translating means bears a recordation without substantial interruptions.

3. In a phonographic machine including movable supporting means for a record, record-cooperable translating means for recording on and reproducing from the record, a drive system coupled to said supporting means for moving said record in relation to said translating means and an audio system including said translating means and selectively conditionable for recording or reproducing: the combination of a control device operable between record position and another position; means controlled by said control device as said device is moved into and out of said record position for respectively placin said audio system into and out of condition for recording; and means for maintaining said audio system out of record condition after return of said control device to record position so long as the record passing aid translating means bears a recordation without substantial interruptions, comprising means for initiating operation of said maintaining means as said control device is moved out of record position, means operatively connecting said maintaining means to said translating means as the maintaining means is put 7 erated condition whenever a substantial blank space on the record passes said translating means.

4. In a phonographic machine including movable supporting means for a record, recordcooperable translatingmeans for recording on and reproducing from the record, a drive system coupled to said supporting means for moving said record in relation to said translatin means and an audio system including said translating means and selectively conditionable for recording or reproducing: the combination of a manual control device movable into and out of record position; a current-operable control device having first and second positions; means efiective only when said manual device'is in record position and said current-operable device is in a predetermined one of its positions for placing said audio system in condition for recording; means, rendered operative by said manual device as the same is moved out of recording position, for placing said current-operable device in the other of its positions; and means, rendered elfective by said current-operable device as the latter is moved to said other position, for feeding a holding current to said current-operable device from signals picked up from the record by said translatin means to maintain said currentoperable device in said other position so long as the record passing said translating ,=means bears a recordation without substantial interruptions.

5. In a phonographic machine including movable supporting means for a record, record-coop-erable translating means for recording on and reproducing from the record, a drive system selectively controllable to advance said record at normal or fast speeds and an audio system selectively conditionable for recording or reproducing: the combination of a control device having record and other positions and biased when in said other position into record position;

means controlled by said controldevice to render said drive system efiective to product normal advance oi the record and to condition said audio system for recording when the control device is in record position; means controlled by said control device to render said drive system effective to produce fast advance of the record and to connect said translating means for operation as a reproducer when the control device is in said other position; and means for maintaining said drive system effective to produce fast advance of the record after return of'said control device to record position so long as the record portion passing said translating means bears a recordation without substantial interruptions, comprising means for putting said maintaining means in operation as said control device is moved to said other position and means operable by signals reproduced fromthe record by said translating means to keep said maintaining means in operation until a substantial blank space on the record passes said translating means. 1

6. In a phonographic machine including movable supporting means for a record, record-cooperable translating means for recording on and reproducing from the record, a drive system selectively controllable to advance said record'at normal or fast speeds and an audio system selectively conditionable for recording or reproducing: the combination of a manual control device having record and other positions; means for biasing said manual device into record position when the same is in said other position; a currentoperable control device having operated and unoperated positions and biased into the latter; means connected to said drive and audio systems and controlled jointly by said control devicesto render said drive system effective to produce normal advance of the record and to condition said audio system for recording when said manual device is in said record position and said currentoperable device is in unoperated position; means whereby said drive system is effective to produce fast advance of the record and said audio system is out of condition for recording when said current-operable device is in operated position; means rendered operable by said manual device as the same is moved to said other position to move said current-operable device into operated position; and means connected to said translating means by said current-operable device when the latter is in operated position for producing a holding current from signals picked up from the record to maintain the currentoperable device in operated position after return of said manual device to record position so long as the record passing said translating means bears recorded signals without substantial interruptions. I

7. The combination set forth in claim 6 including means controlled by said current-operable device for disabling said audio system when the current-operable device is in operated position.

8. The combination set forth in claim 6 wherein said manual device has also a reproduce position, including means controlled by said manual device when the same is in said reproduce position to effect normal advance of the record and to condition said audio system for reproducing.

9. In a phonographic machine including supporting means for a record and a record-cooperable translating means for recording on and reproducing from said record: the combination of a drive system adapted for selectively advancing 11 said record at normal and fast speeds; a control device having record, reproduce and terminal positions; means controlled by said control device and operatively coupled to said drive system to advance said record at normal speed when the control device is inrecord and reproduce positions respectively and including means to advance the record at fast speed when the control device is in terminal position; and means for-maintaining a fast advance of said record after return of the control device from said ter- ;minal to record position so long as the record passing said translating means bears a recorded signal Without substantial interruptions, comprising means operable by signal currents picked up from the record for keeping said maintaining means in operation, and means for restoring said maintaining means to unoperated condition should said signal currents be terminated for a predetermined period of time.

10. In a phonographic machine including a support for a record and a record-cooperable translating means for recording on and reproducing from said record: the combination of a drive system adapted for selectively advancing said record at normaland fast speeds; a control device having record, reproduce and terminal positions; means connecting said control device to said-drive system to cause normal advance of the record when the control device is in record and reproduce positions and including means to cause fast advance of the record when the control device is in terminal position; means effective to maintain fast advance of the record for a momentary period following return of the control device from said terminal to said record translating means for recording on and reproducing from said record: the combination of a drive system adapted for selectively advancing said record at normal and fast speeds; a control device having record, reproduce and terminal positions; means connecting said control device to said drive system to cause said record to be advanced at normal speed when the control device is in record and reproduce positions re spectively, and including means to. cause said record to be advanced at a fast speed when the control device is in said terminal position; means for momentarily maintaining fast advance of said record after return of said control device from said terminal to said record position; and means, including time-delay means and operable by signals picked up from said record, for maintaining fast advance of the record following the return of said control device to record position so long as the picked-up signals are without interruptions exceeding a predetermined period.

12. In a phonographic machine including a record, a record-cooperating translating means adapted to serve selectively as a recorder and as a reproducer, and an audio system associated with said translating means and selectively conditionable for recording and reproducing: the combination of a drive system for said record including control means selectively operable to advance said record at normal speed, and to advance and return said record at a fast speed; a control device placeable selectively into record, reproduce and first terminal and second terminal positions beyond said record and reproduce positions respectively; means connecting said control device to said audio and drive systems to cause the audio system to be conditioned for reproducing and the record to be backspaced at fast speed when the control device is in said first terminal position, including means to cause the audio system to be in condition for reproducing and the record to be advanced at normal speed when the control device is in reproduce position, means to cause the audio system to be conditioned for recording and the record to be advanced at normal speed when the control device is in record position, and means to cause the audio system to be conditioned for reproducing and the record to be advanced at fast speed when the control device is in said second terminal position; and automatic means responsive to signals picked up from said record for causing said record to be advanced at fast speed following the return of said control device from said second terminal position to said record position so long as said picked-up signals are without substantial interruptions, including means connecting said automatic means to said control device to cause the automatic means to be in operation when the control device is put into said second terminal position.

13. In a phonographic machine including a record, a record-cooperating reproducer and means for driving said record at different speeds: the combination of a current-energizable control device for said driving means operable into different positions to change the speed of said record, means operable by signals picked up from said record by said reproducer for holding said control device in one position, manual means movable to supply initial energizing current to said control device to place the latter into said one position, and means operated by said control device as the same is moved to said one position for operatively connecting the control device to said reproducer.

14. In a phonographic machine including a support for a record, a record-cooperating reproducer and means for driving said support: the combination of a control relay for said driving means, a current-supply circuit for said relay normally ineffective to hold the relay in operated position; a control circuit for said ourrent-supply circuit including time-delay means having a predetermined time-delay interval and energizable to cause operation of said relay, a manual control device, means controlled by said manual device for initially energizing said control circuit, and switch means included in said relay and closed as the relay is operated for connecting said control circuit to said reproducer to cause continued energization of said control circuit and maintenance of said relay in operated position so long as the signals picked up from the record are without interruptions exceeding said predetermined time interval.

RICHARD M. SOMERS.

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